Spraying Vallejo paints

I think it just adds a new fun dimension to the hobby.  These are not paint right out of the bottle and bobs your uncle. -- to get great results takes practice and as frustrating as it has been I really think that these are great paints.

Greg

All that said, I'm becoming more and more fond of acrylic lacquers myself for their no-fuss spraying, fast-drying and durable finish......so in no way am I debating your comment!

I'm a big fan of the new acrylic lacquers too.  Sure, you can mix this and that with Vallejo paints and make them work...but why?

disastermaster

.... sure glad I only use Tamiya and an occasional acrylic craft paint.

         .....just saying

 

I hear you, and from all the negative stuff posted here about Vallejo, can't say I blame you.

Just FWIW, it's been my experience that if one sticks to the two Vallejo additives mentioned, it's pretty great stuff.

Most of the troubles I've read here over the years usually lead back to folks using additives that don't play well with the Vallejo chemistry.

The biggest negative was dry-tip, and that has been pretty much negated with their Flow-Improver product.

All that said, I'm becoming more and more fond of acrylic lacquers myself for their no-fuss spraying, fast-drying and durable finish......so in no way am I debating your comment!

.... sure glad I only use Tamiya and an occasional acrylic craft paint.

         .....just saying

I spray the Model Air most often thinned a bit extra with my own thinner in it. I thin it 20% or so, sometimes a bit more. Sprays great. And my thinner that I use on paints that don't like alcohol has a little acrylic airbrush medium in it which improves adhesion. Just sayin, I like the paint and I really like it's super fine pigments for light coat coverage.

Never shot Model Color. I have no doubt I could make it work but can't comment because I've not done it yet.

Do not add alcohol to Vallejo paints.  Unless you want to spend an hour disassembling and cleaning your airbrush.  It clogs the tip almost immediately.

Distilled water works fine.

I always run water (and/or Vallejo thinner and Flow Improver) through my airbrush before using Vallejo paints. I've had Vallejo clump up based on what I last ran through the airbrush when I cleaned it, even if it had dried.

Hey Tojo and Ed,

Thank you for setitng the record straight about spraying the Vallejo lines besides Model Air. I see now that my post was poorly worded and I wouldn't want to scare off a potential new Vallejo user.

I agree that Model Color, Panzer Aces, Game Color, etc will spray ok when properly thinned, and I don't even know why I said it won't.

What I really meant was depending on a new user's experience level, getting those products properly thinned might be challenging becuase the paint is so thick, whlist Model Air might be a better staring point.

Again, thanks fellas!

AH VAllejo.    I am sort of in the middle of actually working with these paints.  Vallejo paints do kinda have a learning curve.  THe model air paints are nice but,  as said above I add flow improver to help with the dry tip thing. I also spray my brush at 20P.S.I.  I have been using stynylrez as a primer and mixing about the same as said above with the model color and have gotten some really nice results.  JUst break out the plastic bottles and find the mix best for you

Greg

Adding Vallejo Flow Improver will go a long way to avoid dry tip

I've found that to be the key.  Don't be stingy with the FI.  I'm using about 30% relative to paint and no thinner.  IMO:  Thinning makes the tip drying worse.  Also, give the brush some air.  20-25psi and don't try to "just barely" open the trigger.  Let the paint keep moving.

Thanks for the tip.

Greg

I wouldn't even try spraying Vallejo Model Color, Game Color, or any of the other variants designed for brush painting until having some degree of confidence with the Model Air Line. Those products require heavy thinning and still don't spray very well, IMO

I thin Model Color/Game Color with Flow Improver, about 3:1 and have had no major hiccups.    I am familiar with the consistency of Model Air and shoot for that.   I also thin Reaper MSP Core Colors and Scale75 at the same rate.   No issues.

Always practice a new material or process before committing to a current model build

Hi Greg,

Model Color sprays nice with their thinner and flow improver,no issues,same with panzer aces colors

If I can do it,anybody can 

Vallejo Model Air will spray straight out of bottle.

Many folks swear by adding just a drop or two of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner. I'm going to say somewhere around 1:15 to 1:30 or so.

Adding Vallejo Flow Improver will go a long way to avoid dry tip.

I'd avoid using any other products other than those two. That's my advice, not gospel.

I wouldn't even try spraying Vallejo Model Color, Game Color, or any of the other variants designed for brush painting until having some degree of confidence with the Model Air Line. Those products require heavy thinning and still don't spray very well, IMO.